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Texas History: Comanche Nation marker tree dedicated in ceremony

Torin Halsey, Times Record News
Published 2:12 p.m. CT March 17, 2018

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The Comanche Nation and the Texas Historic Tree Coalition officially dedicated an Indian Marker Tree, two miles south of Holliday. Marker trees were altered as young saplings by tying them down or making small cuts to change their natural growth. They could signal water sources, hunting grounds, burial sites, etc.
Torin Halsey

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Gene Pekah, a member of the Comanche Elder Council, places a Comanche Nation flag in preparation for a ceremony officially dedicating an Indian Marker Tree south of Holliday Friday morning.(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)Buy Photo

The ceremony began with a Comanche elder wafting sweet-smelling cedar smoke from a smudge pot as a blessing on the approximately 100 people attending Friday morning's dedication of an official Indian Marker Tree.

The marker tree, a pecan that's at least 150 years old, was drastically altered as a sapling to grow horizontally for a period of time.

In Native American culture, the trees were used to indicate a variety of things, such as nearby water sources, trail direction, burial sites or hunting sites.

Steve Houser, a consulting arborist with the Texas Historic Tree Coalition, has studied the tree and analyzed cross sections of dead limbs, and its age coincides with the time period Comanches roamed the area.

The tree now has a sign and a large granite marker explaining the history and cultural significance of it. It is the ninth officially recognized marker tree in Texas.

The historic tree is located about two miles south of Holliday at the Stonewall Jackson Camp No. 249.

Members of the Comanche Nation and Red River Inter-tribal Council conducted the dedication ceremony which included a Native American drum circle and songs sung in the Comanche language.

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About 100 people attended the dedication ceremony of an official Indian Marker Tree adjacent to the Stonewall Jackson Camp #249 south of Holliday Friday morning. The ceremony was conducted by members of the Red River Intertribal Council and Comanche Elder Council.
Torin Halsey/Times Record News

Arborist Steve Houser of the Texas Historic Tree Coalition checks for decay in the trunk of an approximately 150-year old pecan tree which has been officially determined to be an Indian Marker Tree.
Torin Halsey/Times Record News

Gene Pekah, a member of the Comanche Elder Council, places a Comanche Nation flag in preparation for a ceremony officially dedicating an Indian Marker Tree south of Holliday Friday morning.
Torin Halsey/Times Record News

This pecan tree, located on the Stonewall Jackson Camp #249 south of Holliday, was officailly recognized as an Indian Marker Tree by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition and the Comanche Nation.
Torin Halsey/Times Record News